The magnetic compass is the last unknown sense in migrating animals. For some scientists, the monarch butterfly is leading ...

A protein in the retina of a migratory bird can respond to weak magnetic fields, researchers have found (Nature 2021, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03618-9). The discovery suggests that the protein, ...

How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

Pigeons can sense Earth’s magnetic field by detecting tiny electric currents in their inner ears, a team of researchers suggests. Such an inner compass could help to explain how certain animals can ...

Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field generated by electric currents from within the planet. Compasses take advantage of this field to identify north and serve as a navigational aid. But one social ...